ROCS Wu Chang at Zhongzheng Naval Base on 4 May 2013
History
Taiwan
Name	Wu Chang (武昌)
Namesake	Wu Chang
Builder	DCNS, Lorient
Laid down	1 July 1995
Launched	27 November 1995
Acquired	1997
Commissioned	16 December 1997
Homeport	Zuoying
Identification	Pennant number: PFG-1207
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class and type	Kang Ding-class frigate
Displacement	3,200 tonnes, 3,800 tonnes fully loaded
Length	125 m (410 ft)
Beam	15.4 m (51 ft)
Draught	4.1 m (13 ft)
Propulsion	4 diesel SEMT Pielstick 12PA6V280 STC2, 21,000 hp (16,000 kW)
Speed	25 kn (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range	4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) 9,000 nmi (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Endurance	50 days of food
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × ETN boats
Capacity	350 tonnes of fuel, 80 m³ of kerosene, 60 tonnes of potable water
Complement	12 officers 68 petty officers 61 men
Sensors and processing systems	1 × CastorII fire control radar 1 x DRBV-26D Jupiter-II two-dimensional air search radar 1 x Poseidon Triton G search radar Najir photoelectric director Alose Sonar System
Armament	Anti-ship; 8 × Hsiung Feng II anti-ship missiles 1 x MIM-72 Chaparral 2 x Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes Guns; 1 × OTO Melara 76 mm 2 × Bofors 40 mm L70 guns CIWS; 1 × Phalanx CIWS
Armour	On sensitive areas (munition magazine and control centre)
Aircraft carried	1 × Sikorsky S-70C (M)
Aviation facilities	Hangar and helipad

ROCS Wu Chang (PFG-1207) is a Kang Ding-class frigate of the Republic of China Navy.

Development and design

As the ROC (Taiwan)'s defensive stance is aimed towards the Taiwan Strait, the ROC Navy is constantly seeking to upgrade its anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The US$1.75 billion agreement with France in the early 1990s was an example of this procurement strategy,^[1] the six ships are configured for both ASW and surface attack. The Exocet was replaced by Taiwan-developed Hsiung Feng II anti-ship missile and the AAW weapon is the Sea Chaparral. The main gun is an Oto Melara 76 mm/62 mk 75 gun, similar to its Singaporean counterparts, the Formidable-class frigates. Some problems in the integration of Taiwanese and French systems had been reported. The frigate carries a single Sikorsky S-70C(M)-1/2 ASW helicopter.

The Sea Chaparral SAM system is considered inadequate for defense against aircraft and anti-ship missiles, so the ROC (Taiwan) Navy plans to upgrade its air-defense capabilities with the indigenous TC-2N in 2020.^[2] The AMRAAM missiles will be quad-packed in a vertical launch system for future ROCN surface combatants,^[3] but a less-risky alternative arrangement of above-deck, fixed oblique launchers is seen as more likely for upgrading these French-built frigates.

Construction and career

Wu Chang was launched on 27 November 1995 at the DCNS in Lorient. Commissioned on 16 December 1997.

On 31 January 2018, the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China conducted the Chinese New Year Strengthened Combat Readiness Exercise at the Zuoying Naval Base, with Wu Chang as its flagship. The Captain Huang Shuqing of the Wuchang warship was the first female captain of a first-class combat ship of the Republic of China Navy.^[4]

Gallery

• 
  Wu Chang at Zhongzheng Naval Base on 4 May 2013.
• 
  Wu Chang at Zhongzheng Naval Base on 4 May 2013.
• 
  Wu Chang and ROCS Chong Ping at Zuoying Naval Base on 23 November 2014.
• 
  Wu Chang and ROCS Chong Ping at Zuoying Naval Base on 23 November 2014.
• 
  Wu Chang and ROCS Chong Ping at Zuoying Naval Base on 23 November 2014.

References